394 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAT.IX\ Iil.lfiSo.

scaffold, he continued, with reiterated and earnestasseverations, to make protestations of his inno-cence: All his fervor was exercised on that point:When he mentioned the witnesses, whose per-juries had bereaved him of life, his expressionswere full of mildness and of charity. He solemnlydisavowed all those immoral principles, whichover-zealous protestants had ascribed withoutdistinction to the church of Rome: And hehoped, he said, that the time was now approach-ing, when the present delusion would be dissi-pated ; and when the force of truth, though late,would engage the whole world to make repara-tion to his injured honor.

The populace, who had exulted at Stafford’strial and condemnation, were now melted intotears, at the sight of that tender fortitude, whichshone forth in each feature, and motion, andaccent of this aged noble. Their profound silencewas only interrupted by sighs and groans: Withdifficulty they found speech to assent to thoseprotestations of innocence, which he frequentlyrepeated : " We believe you , my lord ! God

bless you, my lord!” These expressions with afaultering accent flowed from them. The exe-cutioner himself was touched with sympathy.Twice he lifted up the ax, with an intent tostrike the fatal blow; and as often felt hisresolution to fail him. A deep sigh was heardto accompany his last effort, which laid Staffordfor ever at rest. All the spectators seemed tofeel the bloty. And when the head was held up